The city and labor union for municipal workers reached a tentative deal on a new contract around 4 a.m. Wednesday, ending a strike that was entering its ninth day.
The tentative agreement, which still needs to be ratified by American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees District Council 33, includes an annual 3% raise over the next three years, with a one-time $1,500 bonus for employees in the first year. The deal will cost the city $115 million over five years. Some city services will begin resuming Thursday and regular trash collection, which has been stopped since last week, will start up again Monday.
MORE: Normal trash collection schedule to resume Monday as city workers return after strike
Mayor Cherelle Parker said the deal also adds a 2% step increase in the salary scale, which will raise the ceiling for workers' pensions. Half of the union members will immediately be impacted by the boost and a total of 80% will be affected by the end of the contract.
Parker noted that coupled with the 5% raise that union members received in November, it would mean a cumulative 14% raise over her four-year term. However, it's still lower than the 5% annually that the union had been asking for.
“This is a very significant investment in our employees, while at the same time ensuring that we as a city are living within our means," Parker said at a news conference Wednesday.
This was the DC 33's first major strike since 1986, when it lasted 20 days and took place in conjunction with a strike from DC 47, which represents the city's white-collar workers.
About 9,000 members of the DC 33 went on strike at 12:01 a.m. on July 1 after the expiration of their contract. The union includes garbage collectors, leading Parker to establish over 60 sites for residents to drop off their trash and recyclables.
Trash piled up at residents' homes and collection sites, some of which had to be moved following criticism on social media regarding their placement. Protestors were arrested Monday after dumping garbage bags inside City Hall.
Residents have been directed not to use those disposal sites, which will be shut down now that the stoppage has ended. Carlton Williams, the director of the Office of Clean and Green Initiatives, said the city will install cameras at those locations and fine residents $5,000 per item for continuing to use them following the strike. Vehicles used to dump items illegally will be confiscated.
The union also represents 911 dispatchers and airport workers. Libraries were shut down, recreation centers were operating with limited hours and a number of pools were shuttered.
Rec centers will resume normal hours (9 a.m. to 9 p.m.) starting Thursday, and the city intends to refill the pools that were drained during the work stoppage by Monday.
Negotiations largely stalled over pay raises, with union members making $46,000 on average each year. The two sides also butted heads over health care plans and pensions. Neither side shared what led to an agreement Monday night.
"The type of agreement that we came to last night was largely what was on the table on June 30, and we're happy that the union did see it fit to come to that agreement and move forward," Chief Deputy Mayor Sinceré Harris said.